Moistener.



H. G. CAMPBELL.

MOISTENER. APPLIGATION FILED Nov. 4, 1907.

Patfmted Sept. 15, 1908 Z SHEETS-SHEET l.

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H. G. CAMPBELL.

MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4, 1907.

Patented Sept. 15,` 1908.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY G. CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLESC. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY G. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Moisteners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to moisteners to be employed for moistening labels,postage stamps and the like, or for other purposes, such as moisteningthe fingers when counting money.

The device of my invention might also be used for the application of athin mucilage.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple, compact moistenerwhich will deliver the moistening fluid in relatively small amountsandwhich can be made at a very small cost.

In carrying out my invention I employ a wick which lies over a flattable with its ends extending into the receptacle for the moisteningfluid. Above this table is arranged a perforated plate, or other likedevice, by means of which the moistening fluid may be delivered to theunder side of alabel. This plate is elastically supported above thetable, so that it may be de ressed into contact With the wick which iesthereon. In the moisteners in which the perforated plate is pressed downagainst a sponge or thick pad soaked with the moistening fluid, theperson using the moistener is apt to depress the plate too far andconsequently get toomuch of the iiuid through the perforations in thelate. This I obviate by arranging the wick with its ends only in thefluid and so that it will be squeezed between the table and theperforated plate. By elastically supporting my perforated late above thetable, so that it will be at al times substantially parallel to thetable, the delivery of the moistening fluid is uniform oversubstantially the entire surface of the plate.

Moisteners which utilize theA iiexibility of the plate are defective inthat the center part where the ressure is exerted will receive arelatively arge amount of Water from the wick or pad, while the edgeswill receive little or none.

My invention has for further objects the new and improved constructionsand arrangements hereafter to be described in the specification and setout more particularly in the claims thereof.

supporting the perforated plate.

i cover 1 1.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a plan view of one form or eme bodiment of my invention,parts being broken away for purposes of illustration. Fig. 2 is asection on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.Fig. 3 is Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective illustrating one way ofelastically Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a modification. Fig. 6 isa section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective illustrating the arrangement ofthe springs employed in the device of the last two figures. Fig. 8 is asectional view illustrating another modification taken on the line 8 8of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 9 is apartial Section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figuresof the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 represents a receptacle, or box, of any desiredshape, here shown as rectangular. This receptacle is fitted with a cover11, which has a central opening for the perforated label holder. Thelatter may be made in various shapes. Preferably it will consist of aperforated plate 12, which is dished and has its rim bent so as to formthe iianges 13. The perforated plate 12, on Which the label is placedwhen the device is used for the purpose of moistening a label, thusstands at a little distance above the l/Vithin the receptacle is a tablewhich may be constructed in any desired manner. I have shown it asconsisting of the horizontal portion 14 supported by the legs l5, 15having feet 16, the latter abutting the sides of the receptacle, so asto prevent the spread of the legs. This is a preferred form of table,but any means for rigidly supporting the wick might be substituted forit. The wick 17 lies ,over this table with its ends extending into themoistening fiuid in the receptacle.

I prefer to give the label holder its elastic support by means ofsprings lying under and attached to the cover in such a way that, whenthe cover is removed from the receptacle, the label holder will be heldthereto. This is merely for convenience when the receptacle is to bereplenished with the mois- 1 a section on line 8 3 of Fig. 1, looking inthe l y direction of the arrows.

tening fluid. I have shown such an arrangement in Figs. l to 4inclusive. Attached to the under side of the cover are two leaf springs18, 18, the ends of which extend under and engage with shoulders 19formed by cutting away the side flanges of the label holder. Thesesprings will give under pressure of the hand, so that the perforatedlabel holder may be brought against the wick 17 lying over the table. InFigs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown other means for elastically supporting thelabel holder. In this form of device I employ four spiral springs 20which are seated upon brackets 21 formed by bending over a portion ofthe legs 22 of the table 23 employed in this form of device.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a different arrangement of springs. Herethe table 24 is provided with the legs 25 which have the olf-setportions 26 forming abutments for the ends of the leaf springs 27, whichmay, if desired, be riveted to the flange of the label holder, one ateach end thereof.

Other modifications like those above described might be devised, and I,therefore, do not wish to limit myself to the precise constructions anddevices set forth.

It will be noted that the perforated plate lies somewhat above the coverof the receptacle. This makes it easy for the label, or such likedevice, to be drawn off the plate as the latter moves away from thewick. The device is constructed so that only a small amount of liquidcan be delivered to the holder, but should there be any excess, it willrun back into the receptacle between the flanges of the cover and theplate. It will be noted that the springs are arranged in a dry place.These parts are usually of steel and ikely to be rusted if allowed tobecome wet. It will be seen that the part referred to as a coverconstitutes, in effect, an inturned rim for the receptacle against whichthe flange of the perforated plate 12 is pressed. This arrangement mightbe brought about by other means than a cover which slips over the top ofthe receptacle in the manner shown in the drawings.

I claim:

1. The combination with a receptacle of a cover for the receptaclehaving an opening therein a table arranged under said opening, a wick onsaid table, a moisture receiving device arranged in said opening abovethe table and normally out of contact with the wick thereon and elasticmeans connecting the moisture receivmg device and cover.

2. The combination with a receptacle of a cover for the receptaclehaving an opening therein a table under said opening, a wick on saidtable, a moisture receiving device arranged in said opening above andnorma'lly out of contact with the wick on said table and with itsmoisture receiving surface normally above the cover of said receptacleand elastic means connecting the moisture receiving device and cover.

3. The combination with a receptacle, of a cover for the receptaclehaving an opening therein, a body o f absorbent material arranged undersaid opening, a moisture receiving device arran ed in said opening abovethe body of absor ent material, and normally out of contact with thesame, and elastic means connecting the moisture receiving device and thecover.

1. The combination with a receptacle having an inturned rim, of adished, perforated plate having a flange extending under said rim,springs upon which said dished plate is mounted, and a body of absorbentmaterial in said receptacle under the dished plate.

5. The combination with a receptacle, of a cover having an openingtherein, a dished, perforated plate arranged in the opening so that theperforated part thereof stands above the top of the receptacle, springson which said plate is mounted, and a body of absorbent material withinthe receptacle and under said plate.

6. The combination with a receptacle, of a cover havinvr an openingtherein, a dished, perforated pllate arranged in the opening so that theperforated part thereof stands above the top of the receptacle, springson which said plate is mounted, a table within the receptacle, and awick upon said table.

7. The combination with a receptacle, of a cover having an openingtherein, a moisture receiving device separate from but elasticallysupported by and connected with said cover, a table within thereceptacle under said cover, and a wick upon said table.

8. The combination with a receptacle, of a cover having an openingtherein, a dished, perforated plate arranged to extend through saidopening and having flanges extending under the cover, flat springs onthe under side of the cover elastically supporting said dished,perforated plate, a table within said receptacle, and a wick upon saidtable.'

HARRY G. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

PERoivAL II. TRUMAN, II. L. PEoK.

